The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC)

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) is an initiative led by progressive people who want to advance the South African Constitution as a platform for democratic politics and the transformation of society and who believe in the advancement of a society whose values are based on the core principles of the Constitution – the promotion of socio-economic rights, judicial independence &amp; the rule of law, public accountability and open governance.

Thus, the founding members of the Council BELIEVE that the people are the ultimate custodians of the Constitution, and custodianship needs to be relocated from institutions to people. Once constitutional rights are claimed by the many, then ordinary people will undertake extraordinary acts to assert their rights and protect and advance the constitution.

A complacent citizenry remains the greatest threat to our Constitution. As responsible citizens we should assert our right to actively campaign for the realisation of rights enshrined in the Constitution.

South Africa is still a society in transition – the foundations of the new democratic order still need to be cemented. Its potential fault-lines – of race, ethnicity, gender, class and access to resources – have to be addressed within the context of a democratic constitutional order. Some may seek to exploit this vulnerability for personal or narrow gain, threatening the progressive values of human dignity, equality and freedom which underpin the Constitution that, hard won as it was, should not be taken for granted.

Therefore, and in order to advance the founding principles of the organisation, the founding members have formed the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) which will work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to:

Encourage a multi-sector campaign to drive social activism so people can claim and defend their rights

Develop a strategy for public engagement

Conduct research as a means to inform constructive debate on constitutional issues

Support public interest litigation

By pursuing rights we can secure human dignity and thereby forge a progressive, and prosperous, democratic society.